KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Simmons University women's soccer team posted the highest grade point average among NCAA Division III schools and was named a recipient of the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for the 2018-19 academic year it was announced by the USC. The honor is given annually to soccer programs throughout the United States for exemplary performance in the classroom as a team.

College Team Academic Award recipients are active members of the United Soccer Coaches College Services Program with a composite grade point average of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale for all players on the roster.

A total of 999 college teams (347 men, 652 women) earned the Team Academic Award. 

The Sharks posted a 3.72 grade point average to rank as the highest GPA among NCAA Division III schools and placed 12th among all collegiate programs at the Division I, II and III levels. Simmons has received the Team Academic Award 13 straight years for the 11th-longest streak in Division III and 16 times overall for the 25th-most among NCAA Division III programs.

The Sharks boasted 20 of 22 soccer student-athletes with a 3.50 GPA or higher, including four team members with a perfect 4.0.

USC annually celebrates the academic achievements of high school and college soccer teams whose student-athletes collectively demonstrate a commitment to excellence in their studies over the course of a full academic year.

Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., United Soccer Coaches is the trusted and unifying voice, advocate and partner for coaches at all levels of the game. The largest community for soccer coaches in the world, uniting coaches of all levels around the love of the game and elevating the game through advocacy, education and service. To learn more, visit UnitedSoccerCoaches.org.

Simmons finished the season with an 8-8-1 overall record, including 6-5-1 in conference action and was eliminated in the GNAC Championship Tournament Quarterfinals at Saint Joseph's (Maine) on a goal with 6.1 seconds left to play.